​What's In Your Sheets?

Did you ever forget to wash a shirt or another item of clothing before you wore it, and it felt itchy and scratchy? Maybe you got a bit of a headache too? That's not uncommon.

This can be due to the brand newness of the polyesters in the fabric. That's precisely why most of the tags say "Wash before use" It's so you don't get sick!​

The Birthday Present For Bob...Last week was a friends birthday. Let's call him Bob for anonymity sake. My friend Bob leads a fully organic, fluoride and gmo free life, growing and making most of his own food. So when his birthday rolled around, I got him some organic chocolate and a pair of green flannelette sheets. (yes, his favorite color is green and he needed sheets) I should have listened months earlier when told me about his requirement for cotton only sheets, duh! So, when I gave him the sheets, he took about a day to very, very politely tell me "Thanks but no thanks on the sheets, they're polyester"

This is an odd thing to happen, I'm sure you'll agree? So I have started looking into it and am now on the trail of 100% organic cotton, organic bamboo or organic hemp sheets. Polyester is BAD against the skin!

Most cheap sheets are made of polyester, micro fiber or a polyester blend. I've found out that it's actually getting harder to find bed linen and clothing that is NOT going to potentially make you sick.

What The Story With Polyester?...Polyester is the most popular cheap fabric choice. Because it has a synthetic feel, it is more often than not, blended with cotton fibers in an attempt to get some breath-ability into these fabrics.

Polyester is also used in the manufacture of all kinds of bottles, glass and cans, clothing and sportswear, sanitary pads, upholstery, nappies, blankets, mattresses, pillows, curtains and carpet. If you haven't looked at labels before, I urge you to do so. You will be surprised how very many products in your life are composed of polyester fibers.

http://textiletechinfo.com/spinning/Polyester-manufacturing-3.htm

The Deadly Science Behind Polyester...Did you know that polyester breaks down and gets into your system even while you sleep, if you're using any type of blend? Harming not only you but the people that manufacture them.

"Because these monomers are so toxic, it takes very small quantities to be harmful to humans, so it is important to know about the monomers before you put the polymers next to your skin or in your home. Since your skin is usually moist, any water-borne monomers will find an easy route into your body."

"Polyester is the terminal product in a chain of very reactive and toxic precursors. Most are carcinogens; all are poisonous. "There is no doubt that the manufacture of polyester is an environmental and public health burdenthat we would be better off without."- (REF)

More Bad News For Polyester...Polyester/cotton bed linen blends and no-iron (microfibre) cotton bed linens are treated with a formaldehyde-based permanent press finish for the no-iron feature. The formaldehyde resin becomes a permanent and unstable part of the fiber, and it continues to release formaldehyde fumes for the life of the linen. (Wash and wear diminishes formaldehyde levels, but residues remain as long as the fabric stays wrinkle free.) Formaldehyde exposure can cause skin disorders, headaches, respiratory problems, fatigue, and insomnia.

How To Protect Yourself In A World Of Polyester...The only real place to start is to remember to read EVERY SINGLE LABEL. And start googling those long words for an education on polyesters and their effects on the body. Then, start making non polyester choices. Start where you are with what you've got.

​I've now started the process of updating my linen cupboard to 100% organic cotton sheets, by purchasing my daughter a set. Yeah, they are more expensive than the cheap polyester sheets, but you cannot put a price on your good health.

p.s. Bob is not going to thwart me on his birthday gift lol, there is a hemp sheet set coming your way my friend! ​

REF: http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/123-A174/

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